Population genetic analysis of Lake Superior basin Brook Trout

The native range of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in the U.S. extends from the east coast to the western Great Lakes region including the Lake Superior basin. Historically widespread across the basin, populations have declined in abundance and distribution over the past century and further declines are likely. Brook trout are of management concern throughout the Great Lakes region, particularly in the Lake Superior basin where populations persist across their historic range. Population declines in conjunction with stocking various brook trout strains originating from outside of the Lake Superior basin could result in either outbreeding or inbreeding depression, impacting the long term stability and persistence of populations. Improved region-wide knowledge of brook trout genetic population characteristics will provide fishery managers with information to make management decisions to better protect and restore populations where they currently persist. This is notice of intent to award a single source cooperative agreement to Michigan State University under justification of 505DM 2.14.B 4 in the approximant amount of $95,000.00. Competition for the award is not practical as Michigan State University is uniquely qualified to complete this work as a Professor there plays a key role in studying the genetics of brook trout across their native range. Principle among the work includes engagement with the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture (EBTJV), where work with Nat Gillespie, the EBTJV Steering Committee Chair, to ensure the results of genetic analyses inform management decisions across the 17 states in the eastern brook trout range. This role as a geneticist working with the EBTJV is identical to the needs of Ashland FWCO for genetic analysis and recommendations related to our Lake Superior basin brook trout status and distribution work, which was modeled accordingly with the EBTJV efforts. Additionally, this Professor is a developer of a new method of genotyping individuals at single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) found across the genome (Ali et al 2016). By using this method, they will be able to genotype thousands of brook trout individuals at 100s-1000s of SNP loci for a very economical price. Lastly, a newly designed state of the art molecular lab at Michigan State University where this work will be completed, and access to the Michigan State University Research Technology Support Facility Genomics Core, where the genomics sequencing will be completed. The Service through the Ashland Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office will be substantially involved in this project and will collect brook trout tissue samples from across the basin for analysis. The Ashland Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office will serve as the temporary repository for samples collected by partner fishery agencies and will develop a sample inventory spreadsheet and prioritize samples for processing and analysis. Ashland Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office will serve as the coordinating office to address any issues or questions related to sample analysis, will distribute results of the genetic analysis to partner agencies, and will contribute as a co-author on presentations and publications resulting from this work.